"Raymond E. Feist - Serpentwar 1 - Shadow of a Dark Queen2" - читать интересную книгу автора (Feist Raymond E)

years the fighting had continued, a running battle past
four of the nine oceans. Children had been born in the
Sha-shahan's camp, grown to young adulthood, and died
in the fighting, and still the demons came. The loremasters
looked in vain for a means of closing the portal
and turning the tide of battle to the Saaur.
From the other side of the world they had fought their
way back to Cibul, as the -demon army poured through
the portal between worlds, and now another portal was
being opened, offering hope for the Saaur: hope through
exile.
Kaba pointedly cleared his throat, and Jarwa forced
away regret. Nothing would be gained from it; as his
Shieldbearer had said, there was no choice.
'Jatuk,' Jarwa said, and a young warrior stepped forward, '
Of seven sons, one to rule each horde, you are the
last,' he said bitterly. The young warrior said nothing.
'You are Ja-shahan,' pronounced Jarwa, officially naming
him heir to the throne. The youth had joined his
father but ten days before, riding out to his father's camp
accompanied by his personal retinue. He was but eighteen
years of age, barely more than a year from the
training grounds and a veteran of only three battles since
coming to the front. Jarwa realized that his youngest son
was a stranger, having been only a crawling infant when
he had left to bring Ahsart to her knees. 'Who rides to
your left?' he asked.
Jatuk said, 'Monis. birth companion.' He indicated a
calm-looking young man who already bore a proud scar
along his left arm.
Jarwa nodded. 'He shall be your Shieldbearer.' To
Monis he said, 'Remember, it is your duty to guard your
lord with your life; more: it is your duty to guard his
honor. No one will stand closer to Jatuk than you, not
mate, not child, not Loremaster. Always speak truth,
even when he wishes not to hear it.'
To Jatuk he added, 'He is your shield; always heed his
wisdom, for to ignore your Shieldbearer is to ride into
battle with an arm tied to your side, blind in one eye, deaf
in one ear.'
Jatuk nodded. Monis was now granted the highest
honor given to one not born of the ruling family;
he could speak his mind without fear of retribution.
Monis saluted, his balled right fist striking his left
shoulder. 'Sha-shahan!' he said, then looked at the
ground, the sign of complete deference and respect.
'Who guards your table?'
Jatuk said, 'Chiga, birth companion.'
Jarwa approved. Selected from the same birth crache,
these three would know one another as they knew